amoeba

Scientific American's latest science roundup covers the rising energy demands of artificial intelligence, ongoing efforts to detect subatomic particles, and research into an amoeba that thrives at extreme temperatures. The episode ties together the environmental cost of the AI boom with fundamental physics and biology discoveries, offering a snapshot of current conversations across science news.

Researchers collected samples from a hot stream in California's Lassen Volcanic National Park using barbecue tongs, then raised the temperature on an amoeba in Syracuse University labs from 57°C to 60°C. At 63°C the organism was still dividing, raising questions about how its intricate cellular machinery keeps functioning under such heat. The findings shed light on the limits of life at high temperatures.

Data centers are consuming growing amounts of energy, drawing attention to the environmental footprint of the AI and cloud computing boom. Other stories gaining traction include scientists discovering a new amoeba species and an effort to relocate turtles to a new habitat, part of a broader science news roundup drawing reader interest.